Grey WolvesBy Maggie H.

Grey wolves, also known as Canis Lupis,is a member of the dog family.The strong muscles under the thin, lanky exterior could rip prey to shreds. It has tan, black, grey,white, and brown fur colors. It's usual lope can develop into a run if chasing prey or running from an enemy. The speed is 31-37 miles per hour.

I chose grey wolves because they are a very interesting animal.The scientific name is Canis Lupis. These animals are one of the most well-researched animals ever! They are mainly depicted as the villain in kids books. Well, let’s get started!

The anatomy/appearance of a grey wolf can vary. Their colors can be white, tan, brown,black,and grey.They have very thick coats to hold in warmth. Grey wolves are thin, but under the exterior, there are muscles and jaws that could rip prey to shreds. They have large paws to give them traction against the snow, so they don’t sink.They usually walk in a lope, but they run to chase prey, and pounce for the killing bite.

The grey wolves’ diet consists of elk, deer,moose, and caribou. They will also dine on rabbits and other small prey. They live on the Tundra, and have lived from the Middle Pleistocene to recently. They adapt to their freezing habitat with their woolly fur, long guard hairs, and big paws for the snow. Their life cycle is extremely short.

Sadly, the wolf life cycle is very short and difficult. They struggle for food, and rarely get it without a fight. They usually die from things like diseases, parasites, lack of food, and infection. The grey wolf lives a hard life with an average of six to eight years. They breed January through April.After mating, pairs will continue to be affectionate. Although wolves often have long-lasting attachments to their mates, if one wolf dies, the widowed mate may breed with another wolf.

Grey wolves live,travel,and hunt in packs of 7-8 wolves. A pack is an extended family group comprised of the breeding, or “alpha” male and female pair, and some of their subordinate offspring and current pups from one or more years. The alpha wolves decide when the pack will travel and hunt, and normally are the first to eat at a kill.

The grey wolves’ defense and offense are its’ vicious bites, strong jaws, and it’s camouflage. It can chase after prey, or run from the opponent with the incredible speed of 31-37 mph. The wolf, although quite territorial, can be social. It has very few enemies. The main ones are humans and parasites.

The wolves’ species survival status is: Experimental population, non essential. A special fact about grey wolves is that they are the largest member of the dog family. The wolf classifies as a mammal. A mammal is a warm-blooded vertebrate animal of a class that is distinguished by the possession of hair or fur, the secretion of milk by females for the nourishment of the young, and typically the birth of live young. In conclusion, Canis Lupis is a very interesting animal that I believe we should cherish and protect.

I hope you have enjoyed this report on wolves! Now that you have made it this far, and most likely enjoyed it, here is a video as a reward for reading my report.